From the Research
The prevalence of dog bites is increasing alongside rising dog ownership rates, with a 47% increase in dog bites after COVID-19 lockdowns ended compared to before, as reported in the most recent study 1. This increase in dog bites is influenced by multiple factors beyond just the number of dogs, including inadequate owner education, insufficient training, increased reporting of incidents, and greater human-dog interactions in densely populated areas. Some key points to consider include:
- The risk of dog bites can be substantially reduced through proper dog training using positive reinforcement techniques, early socialization of puppies to various environments and people, understanding canine body language to recognize stress signals, and supervising interactions between dogs and children 2.
- A public health campaign to increase awareness of the risk of dog bites can be effective in changing attitudes and behaviors, with a recent campaign in South Australia showing increased agreement that any dog can bite among respondents who recalled seeing the campaign 3.
- The severity of dog bite injuries has also increased, with a clear increase in patients presenting with deeper tissue injuries, tissue loss, and muscle, nerve, vascular, or bone involvement 1. Overall, the increase in dog bites reflects not just more dogs but also how humans manage, train, and interact with them, suggesting that improved owner education and public awareness campaigns could help mitigate this trend even as dog populations continue to grow.